River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-02-03
THE BASILISK.
A STORY OF TO-DAY.
CHAPTER M,
now HARDY WAS BURIED.

stool within feet Of my intending
murderer. On the floor. dark mass
in tie darkness. LAY the body which
PIowitz tUoS for me, Close to the muir
derer stood his intended victim He
would have murdered the blind man
tie blind man -sas the only witness Of
his crime.
The only vi nes>2 Nay. what DO l
hear2 The rustic Of a dress. the sound
Of voice that sounds strangely out Of
place sn this atmosphere Of sudden hor-
TOR.
oh. what have you done-what
have You done2''
The voice of Mary Fortescue. low,
but tuH Of anguish and despair.
Go back, Miss Fortescue." said
PIowitz. in that curt tone which is not
discourteous when used TO women in
times Of great emergency. "A burglar
has broken into the house. 1 have
secured him.
- burglar
There was nothing but incredulity
suJ anguish in the tone-nOne Of the
fear which PlOwitz read in it.
DO not bcalarmed. he said. l have
secured him. Hardy and | viii take
him down TO the lodge and send for a
constable
but You have hurt him-you have
kilirl him.. she moJned.
Nonsense he replied, losing all
preteuce Of suayity, '.nonsense-he is
stunned Go To your room. He is re-
yiying,' and he stood over the figure,
us if to secure the prisoner Then he
suddenly started back wildly. My
Cod L. painted hoaEsely. Il have
killed Hardyr'
You have killed himl" echoed Mary
Ia voice in which horror and joy
seemed to my ear to DO strangely
blended.
..Nonsenser' he repeated more
har~hly than before.
He stepped over the PROSTATE form.
and advanced few steps up the
passage towards where Mary was stand
ing. while love and dread had been
fighting in her breast, until she learnt
that her worst fears, at any rate, We're
without foundation.
''Miss FOrtescue YOU must forget this
scene His words We're nothing but a
formula appropriate to any.trying Oc-
casiOn. The way in which they We're
uttered made them 4 fierce command
a deadly menace. You must forget
this scene. You must 60 into Your
room You must remain there until
you receive word that YOU may come
out. Shall l conduct you to your
chamber2''
The nearer approach Of the doctor
was enough to give effect to his COM
mandS Mary hastily retreated. and
with great relief. heard her lock her
door.
Plowitz returned-this episode took
but few seconds-to the body Of
Hardy. and. taking matchbox from
his pocket, struck light, for. with the
closing Of Mary Fortescue's door. the
gloom was again deep. There was no
gas. bus pair of candles stood in
scOnces the passage wall. He lit
these. and then anNiOusly but carefully
examined his victim.
dead beyond question" he said.
..PlowitZ never needs TO strike a second
blow. Poor devil, what sent YOU into
INV way like this Had you been fooling
mc about this fellow COplcstone? All. il
were bitterfoOIing forthee if thou wert?'
Poor deviI-'' he went on in diff
fCrcut tone: .swhat a splendid stroke
that would have been for Cople>tone,
Scarcely a tcIl-tale drop of blood 10 be
seen But. friend Hardy, though il Is
a ne.l. piece Of work. | must not keep
the evidence Of my skill too long on
view
H. odupright. looking about him
in Thought. and then took a step to-
warts the door of the room in which l
was concealed
This would do for the present" he
rluttercd. ..for the key is in the door;
aud if I take it with me. no one could
enter
felt that l was in for either n life
and-,leIth struggle with a detected and
armed murderer. or for a long vigil in
the dark with the corpse of the muir
deredman / decided instinctively and
Immediately for the former. deter
miucd 70 attack him while encountered
with the BODY and eudeavor To possess
mvself Of his dagger. Beyond that,
distinct intentions had not time to go.
but l felt that the possession Of the dag
Ger would be in itself inspiration rs
% the proper course. But while be-
gan TO prepare myself for the moment
OF action. PlOwitz suddenly ceased his
CHASTITY task Of dragging the helpless
heavy form along the floor
fool that | am" he exclaimed.
The secret stairs
Surely he could not mean to take the
corpse ont on 70 the main staircase into
the full light of the hsll? Although in
that sequeStered and uncanny house il
would have done him but little harm II
he had. But no, The stairs Of which
he spoke were 4 new revelation 10 me.
lie raised with some difficulty a pOr-
zion of the flooring. and began TO de
sceud. dragging Hardy along with two
or three vehement pulls till his head
ana shoulders were well over the open
ing- one more vigorous effort, and the
form began ~ disappear also There
was something horribly weird in seeing
the body jerkcd Us invisible hands. and
being drawn head foremost down the
cavity And after il had disappeared
I could hear the humpinE Of the heavy
heels down the stair; but | did not
wait forPIowitzto finish his unhallowed
tourney I stole frummy hiding-place-
Kespiug wen ont Of the candle-light
that my shadow might not he thrown
anywhere within his sight, l reached
round to the tr.tp-door. which rested
with the slightest possible slope against
che wall. 4 violent shake might bring
IL down. The iGzring of the stairs
under the tread of the murderer and
the heavy body Of his victim might do
Ii. 30 10 cover my retreat, and. II
might he. 10 horrify one whom l be
yieved TO be subject to sUperstitious ter
rorS. l brought the trap down on the
cavity with tLud. and in a minute.
before PIowitz could have recovered
himself sufficiently 70 get vel up the
dark and encountered staircase had
pulled the lever. sind stood out il the
quiet. well-li-h-cd hall No one was
visible. and hastily reached my room.